Reps. Lee and Jacobs Introduce Resolution Calling for an End to Child Poverty
WASHINGTON, D.C.–Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-12) and Congresswoman Sara Jacobs (CA-51) today introduced a resolution to fully invest in and address the child poverty crisis in America.
The proposed legislation encourages establishing a national child poverty reduction target; calls to make permanent and improve the Child Tax Credit; and urges to make permanent the Children's Interagency Coordinating Council Rep. Lee helped establish through FY22 and FY23 appropriations, to improve domestic child outcomes, and invests in childhealth, education, housing, and food programs.
“In the wealthiest country in the world, it is a policy failure and an utter shame that we have the child poverty rates that we do. It is far past time for that to change,”said Congresswoman Lee. “This resolution sets us on a path toward commonsense policies that are not only fiscally responsible but will go a long way toward tackling the child poverty crisis. Investments and improvements in policies like the child tax credit, child health education, and housing and food insecurity programs will help pull countless families out of poverty. I’m pleased to be leading this effort with Rep. Jacobs and encourage my colleagues to join us in this fight.”
“Child poverty isn’t inevitable – it’s a policy choice,” said Congresswoman Sara Jacobs. “It’s shameful that we lack the political will to end child poverty when we know exactly how to solve it. Not only is investing in children the right thing to do, but it’s also the fiscally responsible thing to do because child poverty costs our economy over $1 trillion in lost productivity, increased health costs, and more. That’s why I’m so proud to co-lead this resolution that calls on us to muster the political will to prioritize investments and policy changes to end child poverty.”
To read the full text of the bill, click here.